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The Visitor: Gramling United Methodist News November 2014
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14941 Asheville Highway, PO Box 58, Gramling, SC 29348 [email protected]
h Sun.: Classes, 10 am.; Worship, 11 am. h Wed.: Supper, 6 pm.; Children’s Choir/Prayer, 6:30 pm.; Chancel Choir, 7 pm.
Three readings in the past two days have
arrested me. I know that sounds like a strange
statement. So, let me explain. A couple of months
ago someone from my past sent me a book. I just
put it away in a box and never really looked at it until
yesterday. It was a prayer book, but not an ordinary
prayer book. It was from the Jewish faith - a book of
sayings, prayers and worship. And just like the
Hebrew Bible, you read it from the back to the front.
As I glanced through it, I decided to read a bit of it
each day. There was one saying on the first page
that went something like this: ‘I sit in silence for an
hour and then I might be able to pray’. I thought, how
many times do I take an hour to settle myself and
focus on God before I pray? So the reading arrested
me, caused me to think about my prayer life and how
I might change in order to give more time to prayer.
The second reading was about the passage
of Joshua 3:7-17. Joshua has taken over the reign
as leader of the Israelite people and God tells him to
have a priest from each tribe carry the ark into the
Jordan and rest in its waters - in other words, stand
still. What faith the people had to move their bodies
into the waters of a river and then stand still - just
rest. They rested in their faith and God stopped the
flow of the river and everyone crossed over on the
dry land. And I asked myself, when God speaks or
moves me forward in faith, how often do I rest in the
change and allow God to do the work? So often I
step into the waters and then move as quickly as
possible to get to the other side - not giving God a
chance to do the impossible! The same is true in my
prayer life, how often do I rest in the midst of prayer just listening for God’s presence to stop the flood of
thoughts in my brain?
The third reading was in our Study Manual for
Christian Believer about the symbol for creation.
God’s hand was reaching downward from the
mystery of the clouds, and in the background was a
six pointed star. When I first saw the star, I thought,
The stars were created on the fourth day - why is
there a star? As I read, my question was answered.
They called it the Star of Creation. It has six points
because in the first creation story, God created all in
six days - on the seventh he rested. This leads me to
look more closely at all the symbols we have
throughout the sanctuary. They are beautiful. How
blessed we are to have such art to lead us closer to
God! I love to go into the sanctuary at the setting of
the sun and rest in the bath of God’s glory.
I wonder what God is trying to say to me by
arresting me in these readings? And as I share them
with all of you, I wonder what God is trying to say to
all of us?
Peace and love in Christ Jesus,
Wednesday Night Live!
Veterans Recognition: As part of our
November 9th worship service, all our military
veterans will be recognized. We extend a special
invitation to all who have served in the Army
(including National Guard), Navy, Air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard to make a special effort to be on
hand for this service. If you are a veteran and are
new to Gramling UMC, or if you haven't seen your
name on our list of veterans before, please contact
Bruce Woodfin at 864-316-1402 or bwoodfin
@gmail.com so that we can include your name on
our special bulletin insert.
Supper at 6:00 is free, with
plenty of time for the grown-ups to fellowship as well!
6:30 – Kids up to 3rd grade learn a song or two with
Mindy, and 4th and up practice handbells with Ann.
At 6:30 there is also prayer time in the Sanctuary.
The adult’s choir practice starts at 7 p.m.
No WNL on November 26th
Operation Christmas Child:
The Middle School
Sunday School Class is organizing shoe boxes for
Samaritan's Purse’s Operation Christmas Child and
they would like your help! Please start collecting
small gifts and personal items for boys and girls
2-14 years of age – you can fill a whole shoebox
or just get a few items. The class will pack and
deliver the boxes in November. If you would like to
contribute to postage, $7.00 is also needed per box.
Let's all help these students make this a success!
November 3rd: Charge Conference at 7:30
SPRC will meet at 7p.m. in the Parlor
Pastor Rebecca
November 23rd: Thanksgiving dinner at 6p.m.!
Meats are provided - bring sides, desserts, & drinks.
UMYF Calendar - November
November 2: Leave after church to serve
communion to shut-ins. Bring money for lunch.
November 9th and 16th: At church 6-7:30 p.m.
November 30th: At church 6-7:30p.m.
Youth
Christmas party! Bring your favorite finger foodsnack food.
Thank you,
Donelle and Paula
Prayer- Praises and Concerns: Call Faye Woodfin
(472-8143) or Anne Carroll (472-9434)
Are any in your community suffering? They should pray. Are
any celebrating? They should sing praises to God. Are any
sick? They should call the elders of your church and ask
them to pray. James 5:13-14a
Members of Gramling
Marcus Johnson
Lucy Crowley
Carroll Campbell
Sally Hershberger
Angela Lanford
Kenny Bell
Larry Prieb & Rebecca Culp
Nona Morgan
Rachel Lane
JoAnne Etheredge
Homebound
Carroll & Betty Jean Campbell
Merle Bradey
Barbara Runion
Jean Johnson
Rebel Brackett
Friends and Relatives
Kelly Keesling – Farroll & Peggy Campbell’s daughter
Phyllis Fullbright
Hase Broom – Cindy Riddle’s father
Dot Plumley - Cindy Gramling’s mother
Robert Greene - Wanda Ballenger’s brother-in-law
Carl Lane - Dave Lane’s father
Kathy Day - (Katie Woodfin)
Opal Sauve - (Mark Garrell)
Michael Garrell – Mark Garrell’s brother
Grant Allison - Rebel Brackett’s great grandson
Todd Johnson - Frances Shults’ son
Jay Keadle - Pat Keadle’s son
Kinsley Anne Settle- Pat Keadle’s great granddaughter
Karen Heitman & DeWayne Melton (Sandra Wingo)
Buddy Miller
Mary Stork
Carolyn Woodfin
Peyton Hammersley
November
Birthdays!
Assisted Living, Nursing Home
Jane Fisher - Skylyn Place
J.L. Fowler - Rosecrest
Doris Etheredge - Lake Emory/Camp Care
Joyce Evington - Wesley Ct. Assisted Living
Reba Dobbins - White Oak of Tryon
2 Ann Louise Granger 6 Mary Thompson
3 Catherine Gramling
6 Monica Parris
3 Mamie Fain
6 Ronnie Campbell
3 Steve Pressley
6 Steve Fowler
5 Brian Duncan
9 Grace Belangia
5 Deborah Rice
10 Jake Gramling
Military and
Civil Defense Personnel
Drew Etheredge
Tyrone Edwards
Ed Hershberger
Mary Katherine Connell
Church:
Gramling UMC
Pastor Rebecca
Bishop Holston
World:
Gramling Church Leaders
District Supt. Paul Harmon
Immigrants
Israel
U.S. leaders / SC leaders
Iraq
_________________________________________________________
Christian Sympathy: Please pray for the
friends and family who lost loved ones:
Nancy Pike passed away Friday, October 17th.
10 Paul Kyzer
13 Derek Martin
14 Allie Pressley
17 Carlene Miller
21 Robertson Gramling
22 Boomer Buff
24 Susan Woodham
25 Polly Harper
25 Pastor Rebecca Wilkins
28 Abby Lane
Gramling United Methodist Church
PO Box 58
Gramling, SC 29348
Address Service Requested
Pastor Rebecca Wilkins
( want electronic copy only? e-mail [email protected] )